PATROL: Predicting treatment outcome in the armed forces

Introduction

Each year, approximately 2000 active serving soldiers and veterans are referred to the Dutch military mental health care (MGGZ) for psychological treatment. Clinicians carefully consider numerous effective psychological and pharmacological treatments for each patient, but treatment efficacy rates can be improved. A tool that reliably predicts an individual patient’s response to treatment could significantly reduce this mental burden. Many factors seem to be predictive for treatment outcome. Examples are:

•    Socio-demographical variables (age, gender, living situation, military missions)
•    Clinical variables (psychiatric symptom load and comorbidities)
•    Biological variables (brain activity, cortisol levels, genetics)
•    Therapy-specific factors (emotion regulation skills and interpersonal behavior)
•    Transdiagnostic variables (sleep, social support, life style) 

In order to measure the predictive value of all these variables on treatment outcome, we established a biobank (PATROL). We strive to include 1000 patients. The predictors will be measured during the intake process, the treatment response six and twelve months after initiating treatment. 
 

Project overview

Objective:

To systematically collect clinical, biological and transdiagnostic factors in order to predict psychotherapy outcome in military.

Target population:

Active serving soldiers and veterans (aged 18-65) that are referred to the MGGZ for any psychological symptom they experience.

Timeframe:

The study will start in 2023.  The expected duration is 5 years.

Results:

The results are expected by the end of 2028.